Relationship between pest grasshopper densities and climate variables in the southern Pampas of Argentina.

Grasshoppers are one of the most predominant insects in the grasslands of the southern Pampas. In this region, Dichroplus elongatus, Dichroplus maculipennis, Dichroplus pratensis and Borellia bruneri are the most abundant species and have the greatest economic importance. This study aimed to assess the relationship between temporal changes in the density of these species and climate variables associated with temperature and rainfall over an 11-year study period., We monitored 22 sites in different areas of Laprida county from 2005 to 2016. A total of 25 grasshopper species were collected. The most abundant species were D. maculipennis and B. bruneri which reached the highest densities from 2008-2009 to 2010-2011. The rainfall accumulated from September (RAS) to the sampling date and the number of rainy days (RD) largely explained the density variation of B. bruneri. Besides RD and RAS, winter rainfall, rainfall accumulated from October to the sampling date, and thermal amplitude of October (TAO) influenced the density of D. maculipennis. Our results indicated that seasons with less rainfall and fewer RD favored these two species' abundance. We identified that the RD and TAO contributed significantly to variations in the density of D. elongatus. In contrast to the other two species, we recorded D. elongatus in seasons with high rainfall and high RD. A better understanding of the climate influence on the life cycle of these economically important insects may identify key factors in their population dynamics which in turn may improve management options.

Observation of 7pP23/2→7dD2 optical transitions in 209 and 210 francium isotopes.

We report on the direct experimental observation of the 7pP23/2→7dD2 optical transitions in 209 and 210 francium isotopes. By continuously monitoring the fluorescence emitted by the isotopes collected in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), the electric dipole transitions 7pP23/2→7dD25/2 of Fr209, not yet experimentally observed, and 7pP23/2→7dD25/2, 7pP23/2→7dD25/2 of Fr210 were detected as sub-Doppler depletion dips of the cold atom population. This approach allowed unambiguous identification of the excited state hyperfine structures, even in the absence of a large stable vapor. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness and the flexibility of fluorescence monitoring of trap depletion upon laser excitation, and broaden the experimental knowledge of francium isotopes and their electronic and nuclear properties. These results will have a relevant impact on ongoing researches for low-energy testing of fundamental symmetries with francium, from atomic parity non-conservation to the electron dipole moment.

Epicardial Fat Thickness and Primary Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and left ventricle (LV) changes. Given its peculiar biomolecular and anatomic properties, excessive epicardial fat, the heart-specific visceral fat depot, can affect LV morphology. Whether epicardial fat can be associated with aldosterone and LV mass (LVM) in patients with PA is unknown. We performed ultrasound measurement of the epicardial fat thickness (EAT) in 79 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with PA, 59 affected by bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (IHA), 20 aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), and 30 patients with essential hypertension (low renin hypertension) (EH). The 3 groups did not differ by age, sex distribution, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or blood pressure values. EAT showed a trend of increase in both APA and IHA groups when compared to patients with EH (8.3±1.8 vs. 7.9±1.3 vs. 7.8±2 mm, respectively). EAT was significantly correlated with indexed LVM in the IHA group (r=0.35, p<005), better than BMI or WC were. Interestingly, EAT was highly associated with plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) and PAC/plasma renin activity (PRA) (PAC/PRA) in the APA group (p=0.58, p=0.37, p<0.01, for both), whereas BMI and WC were not. EAT was also correlated with PRA in the IHA group (p=-0.28, p<0.05). Our study indicates a novel and interesting interaction of EAT with PA, independent of obesity, abdominal fat and blood pressure control. EAT can locally affect LVM, at least in patients with IHA. Further studies in larger population will be required to confirm these findings.

Enhanced Soluble Serum CD40L and Serum P-Selectin Levels in Primary Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most frequent forms of secondary hypertension, associated with atherosclerosis and higher risk of cardiovascular events. Platelets play a key role in the atherosclerotic process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the platelet activation by measuring serum levels of soluble CD40L (sCD40L) and P-selectin (sP-selectin) in consecutive PA patients [subgroup: aldosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma (APA) and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (IHA)], matched with essential hypertensive (EH) patients. The subgroup of APA patients was revaluated 6-months after unilateral adrenalectomy. In all PA group, we measured higher serum levels of both sP-selectin (14.29±9.33 pg/ml) and sCD40L (9.53±4.2 ng/ml) compared to EH patients (9.39±5.3 pg/ml and 3.54±0.94 ng/ml, respectively; p<0.001). After removal of APA, PA patients showed significant reduction of blood pressure (BP) values, plasma aldosterone (PAC) levels and ARR-ratio, associated with a significant reduction of sP-selectin (16.74±8.9 pg/ml vs. 8.1±3.8 pg/ml; p<0.01) and sCD40L (8.6±1 ng/ml vs. 5.24±0.94 ng/ml; p<0.001). In PA patients, we found a significant correlation between sP-selectin and sCD40L with PAC (r=0.52, p<0.01; r=0.50, p<0.01, respectively); this correlation was stronger in APA patients (r=0.54; p<0.01 r=0.63; p<0.01, respectively). Our results showed that PA is related to platelet activation, expressed as higher plasma values of sCD40L and sP-selectin values. Surgical treatment and consequent normalization of aldosterone secretion was associated with significant reduction of sCD40L and sP-selectin values in APA patients.

Evidence and role of autoantibodies in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

In this study, we review our current knowledge of the autoimmune etiopathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps including bacterial infections, viral infections and immunomediated mechanisms and to discuss pathogenesis with relevance for pharmacotherapy. Relevant publications on the etiopathogenesis and treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) from 1977 to 2013 were analyzed. The characteristic signs and symptoms include appearance of relapsing nasal polyps, with typical symptoms such as nasal obstruction, nasal discharge and, usually, loss of the sense of smell. The etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. Proposed theories of causation include bacterial or viral infections and immunomediated mechanisms. The autoimmune aetiology of unknown origin or failure to respond to classic pharmacological treatments with nasal and oral steroids is now suspected. At present, the nature of the antigen trigger, the exact role played by B/T cells and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis remains unclear. Corticosteroids and surgery are the first line of treatment in CRSwNP. In the case of corticosteroid treatment failure, other drugs can be used such as rituximab, belimumab or omalizumab which have demonstrated clinical efficacy in the treatment of nasal polyposis with comorbid asthma. Immunosuppressive drugs such as methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide have also been used with varying degrees of success.

Light desorption from an yttrium neutralizer for Rb and Fr magneto-optical trap loading.

We present here the first evidence of photodesorption induced by low-intensity non-resonant light from an yttrium thin foil, which works as a neutralizer for Rb and Fr ions beam. Neutral atoms are suddenly ejected from the metal surface in a pulsed regime upon illumination with a broadband flash light and then released in the free volume of a pyrex cells. Here atoms are captured by a Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT), which is effectively loaded by the photodesorption. Loading times of the order of the flash rise time are measured. Desorption is also obtained in the continuous regime, by exploiting CW visible illumination of the metallic neutralizer surface. We demonstrate that at lower CW light intensities vacuum conditions are not perturbed by the photodesorption and hence the MOT dynamics remains unaffected, while the trap population increases thanks to the incoming desorbed atoms flux. Even with the Y foil at room temperature and hence with no trapped atoms, upon visible illumination, the number of trapped atoms reaches 10(5). The experimental data are then analyzed by means of an analytical rate equation model, which allows the analysis of this phenomenon and its dynamics and allows the determination of critical experimental parameters and the test of the procedure in the framework of radioactive Francium trapping. In this view, together with an extensive investigation of the phenomenon with (85)Rb, the first demonstration of the photodesorption-aided loading of a (210)Fr MOT is shown.

A giant hemorragic adrenal pseudocyst: contrast-enhanced examination (CEUS) and computed tomography (CT) features.

INTRODUCTION: Adrenal pseudocysts are rare cystic masses that arise from the adrenal gland and which are usually non-functional and asymptomatic. We report a rare case of a giant hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocyst presenting with abdominal pain and we discussed the radiological features. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 75 year old man was admitted with acute abdominal pain post mild-trauma. Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen revealed a hemorrhagic mass measuring 18 cm located in the right suprarenal region, displacing the right kidney and liver. He subsequently underwent to contrast enhancement ultrasound (CEUS), which showed features suggestive for hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocyst. A complete endocrine working didn't show any hormonal hypersecretion. The patient underwent laparotomy and right adrenal mass was excised. Histological examination revealed giant hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocyst. The abdominal pain resolved after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: to the best our knowledge, this is the first case studied with CEUS reported in the literature.

Carotid stenosis after adjuvant cervical radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers: a prospective controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of radiation-induced carotid stenosis, in patients who were treated for head and neck malignancies, using colour-flow duplex scanning. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study at a single medical centre. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled two groups of patients. The first (radiotherapy group) consisted of patients who received surgical treatment and adjuvant radiotherapy of the neck. The control group consisted of patients with head and neck malignancies who received only surgical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients were evaluated with carotid artery ecoDoppler imaging 1 week before and 36 months after the surgical procedure. Intima-media thickness was measured bilaterally at the internal carotid artery and at the bifurcation. Carotid obstruction was classified as low (0-30%), moderate (31-49%) or severe (≥50%). RESULTS: The preoperative stenosis grade did not differ between groups. In 15/25 patients (60%) in the radiotherapy group, mild stenosis evolved to moderate stenosis, while only 6/37 (16%) of the controls did (P = 0.004). Additionally, 9/39 (23%) patients in the radiotherapy group progressed to severe stenosis compared with only 3/54 (6%) controls (P = 0.029). The overall evolution showed that stenosis worsened in 24/32 (62%) patients in the radiotherapy group and 9/54 (17%) patients in the control groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need to study the long-term incidence of cerebrovascular events in these two different populations (radiation treated and surgically treated) to identify increased cerebrovascular morbidity.

Relation of adiponectin, visfatin and bone mineral density in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue has been suggested to influence bone density and metabolism through the effect of some adipokines. However, whether adiponectin and visfatin may correlate with bone metabolism is still unclear. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of adiponectin and visfatin with bone density in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). SUBJECTS: We enroled 72 consecutive patients with MS (25 males, 47 females; mean age 58.14±11 yr) and 40 control subjects. METHODS: Plasma adiponectin and visfatin levels were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the level of lumbar spine L2-L4 (BMD L2-L4) and femoral neck (BMD-Fn). RESULTS: MS patients had higher plasma visfatin and lower adiponectin levels than controls, (p<0.01 for both). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with BMD-Fn and BMD L2-L4 (r=-0.20, r=-0.24, respectively; p<0.05 for both) whereas plasma visfatin levels were positively correlated to BMD L2-L4 only in men (r=0.44; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that adiponectin and visfatin are oppositely associated with BMD. Although the mechanisms behind these correlations are unclear, a modulation of bone metabolism by these adipokines can be suggested.

Adrenal ganglioneuroma incidentally discovered in a patient with dysuria: a case report.

A case of adrenal ganglioneuroma incidentally discovered during an abdominal ultrasound examination in a 26 year-old woman patient with recurrent episodes of dysuria. After a diagnostic work-up with laboratory and abdomen CT scan, the patient uderwent a laparotomic removal of the adrenal lesion. Histopathological examination of the adrenal mass confirmed the diagnosis.

Autologous serum skin test reactivity and basophil histamine release test in patients with nasal polyposis: preliminary results.

An eosinophilic inflammatory process is generally observed in patients suffering from nasal polyposis (NP), however its onset has not yet been defined. It has been suggested that immune activation of inflammatory cells may be the cause. The aim of this study is to verify whether autoantibodies and/or histamine-releasing factors are present in the serum of patients suffering from NP. In fact, we assume that autoantibodies and/or histamine-releasing factors, as already demonstrated in chronic idiopathic urticaria and asthma, may be involved in the pathogenesis of NP. In this case-control analytical study 40 patients with NP and 27 control subjects underwent the in vivo autologous serum skin test (ASST). The sera from 6 patients suffering from NP and 9 control group subjects, who had all been previously studied and randomly selected, underwent basophil histamine release assay from normal donor as a pilot study. The ASST showed positive results in 55% of patients suffering from NP versus 8% of the control group (p= .00006), the basophil histamine release test (BHRT) turned out positive in all patients tested and in 11% of the control group. We found a weak positive correlation between the percentage of histamine release and the wheal diameter. ASST reactivity is very frequent in patients suffering from NP, thus suggesting the presence of histamine-releasing factors in the blood stream. The BHRT was positive in the serum of all patients, thus suggesting the presence of anti-FcepsilonRI, anti-IgE autoantibodies and/or other histamine-releasing factors, the presence of which can play a role in triggering and maintaining the eosinophilic inflammatory process in NP.

[Phlegmons of the neck: our experience with 7 cases]. / Flemmoni del collo: nostra esperienza su 7 casi clinici.

Phlegmons of the neck originate from infectious diseases of head and neck. Odontogeneous inflammation of the oral cavity is most frquently primary lesion, followed by sinusitis, otitis, as well as radiation therapy and surgical procedures. Phlegmons of head and neck can drain into the spaces among the muscles, aponevrosis, organs inside the neck like sublingual space, lateral pharyngeal space, retro-pharyngeal space or pre-vertebral space. We hereby report our experience with 7 patients treated from 2001 to 2005.

Sleep disturbance in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: prevalence and risk factors - A cross-sectional study.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic relapsing disorders that have a negative impact on quality of life. They can be highly disabling and have been associated with sleep disturbance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sleep quality of a large cohort of IBD patients to identify possible associated cofactors. We prospectively recruited consecutive patients attending the IBD Unit of "Azienda Ospedaliera" of Padua from November 2018 to May 2019 and collected demographics and clinical characteristics. The patients completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the IBD questionnaire (IBDQ), the IBD-Disability Index (IBD-DI) questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (9-HADS). A multivariate regression model was applied to assess independent risk factors of sleep disturbance among IBD-related variables, disability, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. We investigated the sleep quality of 166 patients with IBD, finding 67.5% of them suffering from sleep disturbance. In particular, low quality of life, presence of disability and extraintestinal manifestations were identified as independent risk factors of sleep disturbance. We discovered that all depressed patients were also affected by sleep disturbance, while we found no difference in sleep disturbance between patients with or without anxiety state. However, a positive correlation was reported between both anxiety and depression scores and PSQI score (Spearman correlation: r = 0.31 and r = 0.38 respectively). Our study showed that sleep quality is not directly associated with an active or inactive IBD state or with the ongoing treatment, but it is mostly correlated with the patients' mood state, disability, and quality of life. Gastroenterologists and psychologists should join forces during clinical outpatients' visits to evaluate emotional states for a better IBD management.

Full control of sodium vapor density in siloxane-coated cells using blue LED light-induced atomic desorption.

We propose and experimentally implement a method, based on light-induced atomic desorption, for controlled generation of large sodium densities in siloxane-coated cells, kept at room temperature. An array of blue LEDs is used to desorb sodium atoms from the cell walls. The required atomic vapor density is achieved and stabilized by controlling the LED power through the feedback given by the sodium fluorescence. We show that sodium densities corresponding to about 400 K can be obtained and kept stable for a long time with less than 6 mW of LED light power. Moreover, this technique allows for precise vapor density modulation with a frequency of tenths of hertz, which is not possible using traditional heating methods.

Analysis of machine learning algorithms as integrative tools for validation of next generation sequencing data.

OBJECTIVE: While next generation sequencing (NGS) has become the technology of choice for clinical diagnostics, most genetic laboratories still use Sanger sequencing for orthogonal confirmation of NGS results. Previous studies have shown that when the quality of NGS data is high, most calls are indicated by Sanger sequencing, making confirmation redundant. We aimed at establishing a set of criteria that make it possible to distinguish NGS calls that need orthogonal confirmation from those that do not would significantly decrease the amount of work necessary to reach a diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A data set of 7976 NGS calls confirmed as true or false positive by Sanger sequencing was used to train and test different machine learning (ML) approaches. By varying the size and class balance of the training dataset, we measured the performance of the different algorithms to determine the conditions under which ML is a valid approach for confirming NGS calls in a diagnostic environment. RESULTS: Our results indicate that machine learning is a valid approach to find variant calls that need more investigation, but in order to reach the high accuracy required in a clinical environment, the training data set must include enough observations and these observations must be well-balanced between true/false positive NGS calls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that it is possible to integrate the diagnostic NGS validation workflow with a machine learning approach to reduce the number of Sanger confirmations of high- quality NGS calls, reducing the time and costs of diagnosis.

Optical recording in Rb loaded-porous glass by reversible photoinduced phase transformations.

We report reversible phase transformations in Rb loaded-porous glass irradiated with weak laser light which allow us to realize image storage on it. The effect is due to photo-induced changes of Rb distribution inside the glass pores, where atomic photodetachment and confinement produce either formation or evaporation of Rb nanoclusters. These processes depend on light frequency and intensity making controllable by light the porous glass transparency. We demonstrate that porous glass doped with Rb can be used as a support to record a light pulse for a long time as well as to remember the order of light colors in an illumination sequence.

[A case of recurrent pharyngocele: treatment and literature review]. / Un caso di faringocele bilaterale recidivato come mediano e rioperato con successo.

Congenital or acquired pharyngocele is a rare disease characterized by a herniation of the pharyngeal mucosa through a "locus minoris resistentiae" of the lateral wall of the pharynx. Generally the pharyngocele does not present specific clinical signs or symptoms which makes it necessary to resort to radiological examination for the diagnosis. Our case is particular for primitive bilaterality and the single and median recurrence eight years later. After surgical excision the symptoms completely disappeared. The radiological examinations following surgery were negative.

[A case of lymphoepithelial cyst (branchial cyst) in an elderly patient: diagnosis differential, treatment and literature review]. / Un caso di cisti linfoepiteliale (branchiale) in un paziente anziano: diagnosi differenziale, trattamento e revisione della letteratura.

We present a case of lateral cervical cyst stressing the difficulties about the diagnosis. The international guidelines for the management of lateral neck cysts in the over 40s' age group are taken in consideration. Our case is a 74 years old male patient with a 6 month history of a cervical swelling. We consider this case rare for the age of patient and the absence of malignancy.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring-derived short-term blood pressure variability in primary hyperparathyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: Primary hyperparathyroidism is associated with a cluster of cardiovascular manifestations, including hypertension, leading to increased cardiovascular risk. PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to investigate the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring-derived short-term blood pressure variability in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, in comparison with patients with essential hypertension and normotensive controls. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (7 normotensive,18 hypertensive) underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at diagnosis, and fifteen out of them were re-evaluated after parathyroidectomy. Short-term-blood pressure variability was derived from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and calculated as the following: 1) Standard Deviation of 24-h, day-time and night-time-BP; 2) the average of day-time and night-time-Standard Deviation, weighted for the duration of the day and night periods (24-h "weighted" Standard Deviation of BP); 3) average real variability, i.e., the average of the absolute differences between all consecutive BP measurements. RESULTS: Baseline data of normotensive and essential hypertension patients were matched for age, sex, BMI and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring values with normotensive and hypertensive-primary hyperparathyroidism patients, respectively. Normotensive-primary hyperparathyroidism patients showed a 24-h weighted Standard Deviation (P < 0.01) and average real variability (P < 0.05) of systolic blood pressure higher than that of 12 normotensive controls. 24-h average real variability of systolic BP, as well as serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels, were reduced in operated patients (P < 0.001). A positive correlation of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone with 24-h-average real variability of systolic BP was observed in the entire primary hyperparathyroidism patients group (P = 0.04, P = 0.02; respectively). CONCLUSION: Systolic blood pressure variability is increased in normotensive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and is reduced by parathyroidectomy, and may potentially represent an additional cardiovascular risk factor in this disease.

Vitreous and plasma changes of endothelin-1, adrenomedullin and vascular endothelium growth factor in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess vitreous and plasma changes of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), adrenomedullin (ADM) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 9 patients with PDR in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 11 age-matched non-diabetic patients were enrolled. The levels of VEGF-A, ADM and ET-1 were measured using an enzyme (ELISA) and a radioimmunoassay (RIA) both in vitreous and plasma samples. RESULTS: Vitreous ADM and VEGF-A levels were significantly higher in PDR patients (p=0.04 and p=0.02), whereas no differences were found in ET-1 levels (p=0.29). Plasma ADM levels were significantly higher in the PDR group (p<0.01), whereas no significant differences were found in the plasma ET-1 and VEGF-A levels (p=0.30 and p=0.37). The ADM vitreous/plasma ratio was significantly reduced in PDR group. CONCLUSIONS: The role of ET-1 in advanced PDR is still controversial; it has been supposed a role limited to induce hypoxic state and promote angiogenesis in the early phases. Once the neo-angiogenic process starts, other mediators are mainly involved as VEGF and ADM. Our findings suggest that ADM is an important marker of advanced PDR as well as VEGF. Conversely, ET-1 is not significantly involved in the advanced stage of PDR.